HOLYOKE – Some members of the City Council and Mayor Elaine A. Pluta are at odds over whether the acting city personnel chief is qualified for the $60,600-a-year job permanently.

The issue has revisited the question of how clear or cloudy, depending on the interpretation, the city charter and ordinances are regarding a residency requirement for department heads.

Another question is how long someone can keep a job in an “acting” capacity.

The current issue involves Jeanette Berrios, of Springfield, who has been acting personnel administrator for two years and has worked in the personnel office for 14 years.

The council’s Public Service Committee on Thursday voted 4-0 to refer to Pluta her appointment of Berrios as permanent administrator.

The position is among those the mayor has the power to fill but is subject to City Council confirmation.

Councilors said they were concerned that Berrios is ineligible for the job permanently because she lacks a bachelor’s degree, which is a qualification for that job in city ordinances.

They based their decision on a five-page opinion, “Requirements for appointment of Personnel Director,” from City Solicitor Lisa A. Ball.

“I guess what you’re saying is she can’t have the position because she does not meet the requirements,” committee Chairman James M. Leahy said to Ball.

Berrios told councilors she is at most two years from getting a bachelor’s degree as she attends Springfield College.

Pluta, reached later, said she will reappoint Berrios as acting personnel administrator because she is qualified.

“I will reapppoint Jeanette as acting (administrator) and I have every confidence in her that she’s doing a good job and will continue to do it,” Pluta said in a voice-mail message.

Councilor at Large Kevin A. Jourdain questioned Berrios’ qualifications for the job in two areas, beyond her lack of a bachelor’s degree. He believes the charter is clear that city office-holders must live here, he said.

Ball said her interpretation of the city charter and ordinances was that while certain department heads must live here, nothing requires city residency to be personnel administrator.

Also, Jourdain said, he doubted whether Berrios’ working 14 years in the personnel office met a qualification in city ordinances that the personnel administrator have at least five years experience as a personnel director, assistant director or administrator.

Berrios said later she felt Jourdain was targeting her by questioning her work experience.

“In regards to Mr. Jourdain, no,” Berrios said, when asked if she felt she was treated fairly. “I feel that his issues have been a little more personal.”

Jourdain said that he was only ensuring that rules get followed.

“That’s why we have rules. That’s my job,” Jourdain said.

Berrios also said that residency should be a non-issue given that William D. Fuqua has been superintendent of the Department of Public Works for 20 years while living in Westfield. Jourdain has long been a critic of Fuqua being public works chief without living here.